Shloka 5
Anuśāsana-parva Adhyāya 112: Dharma as the sole companion; karmic witnesses; rebirth sequences
Bṛhaspati–Yudhiṣṭhira Saṃvāda
निर्ममा निरहंकारा निर्दधन्धा निष्परिग्रहा: | शुचयस्तीर्थभूतास्ते ये भैक्ष्यमुपभुज्जते
bhīṣma uvāca | nirmamā nirahaṅkārā nirdvandvā niṣparigrahāḥ | śucayas tīrthabhūtās te ye bhaikṣyam upabhuñjate ||
ಮಮತೆ-ಅಹಂಕಾರರಹಿತರು, ದ್ವಂದ್ವಾತೀತರು, ಪರಿಗ್ರಹ-ಆಸಕ್ತಿಯಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಭಿಕ್ಷೆಯಿಂದ ಜೀವನ ನಡೆಸುವ ಶುದ್ಧಹೃದಯರು—ಅವರೇ ಸ್ವತಃ ತೀರ್ಥಸ್ವರೂಪರು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A truly holy person is defined not by external rites but by inner freedom: absence of possessiveness and ego, equanimity beyond dualities, and non-accumulation. Such a person, living simply on alms, becomes ‘tīrtha-like’—a source of purification and moral inspiration for others.
In Bhishma’s instruction on dharma (Anushasana Parva), he describes the marks of purified ascetics and virtuous renouncers. He elevates their disciplined, non-possessive life as itself a sacred presence, comparable to a pilgrimage-site.